Name: No Tax Refund Yet? Why Your IRS Money Might Be Late
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No Tax Refund Yet? Why Your IRS Money Might Be Late

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FollowIf it's been longer than three weeks, and you haven't received your tax refund, learn the most likely reasons.Katie TeagueWriterKatie is a writer covering all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social Security and notable events. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake.Peter ButlerHow To writer and editorPeter is a writer and editor for the CNET How-To team. He has been covering technology, software, finance, sports and video games since working for @Home Network and Excite in the 1990s. Peter managed reviews and listings for Download.com during the 2000s, and is passionate about software and no-nonsense advice for creators, consumers and investors.7 min readTaxes were due two weeks ago. If you're not one of the roughly who've submitted their 2021 tax returns, you need to to or avoid penalties and interest if you owe. with &nbsp;should give you a tax refund in about 21 days, according to the IRS. If you've been waiting longer than three weeks and no refund has arrived yet, there could be a problem or your tax situation may simply require additional processing.In a , the IRS noted that some tax refunds can take a bit longer than the expected 21-day period and also warned taxpayers "not to rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills."&nbsp;Here are 10 of the most common reasons IRS money is delayed this year. For more, find the , see how to or , and learn how to .When you file your tax return, it's important to cross-check any information you've included to make sure it's accurate. For instance, don't mix up the numbers of state taxes withheld with federal taxes withheld. Before you submit your taxes to the IRS, simply take a second look to fix any potential errors and make sure you've filled out each field.Also, if you received child tax credit payments last year, make sure the amount on matches the amount you received. If an incorrect amount is entered, the IRS will need to further review your tax return, which the will result in an "extensive delay."Note that if there's a problem that needs to be fixed after you submit your return, the IRS will first try to proceed without contacting you. That means it could be days or weeks before you know there's a problem.If you owe back taxes to the IRS, the agency may take some or all of your tax refund to pay off that debt. If your refund contains more money than you owe, you'll receive the remaining balance via direct deposit or check in the mail, but it could be delayed. Taxpayers whose refunds are used by the IRS to cover existing payment obligations should receive a&nbsp;&nbsp;in the mail.&nbsp;Even if you don't owe the IRS money, the agency can keep your tax refund money if you have other debts to state or federal agencies. The&nbsp;&nbsp;enables the IRS to take all or part of your tax refund to pay obligations such as child support, state taxes or unemployment compensation repayments. Such debts could delay the arrival of your remaining tax refund or eliminate it completely.Child tax credit: Everything we knowHave you changed bank accounts since you last filed your taxes? If so, pay close attention to what the direct deposit information says when submitting your return this year. If you accidentally forget to update it with your , your refund will be sent back to the IRS. This will likely result in a paper check being mailed to your house, which could take several weeks longer to arrive.This year, the IRS is encouraging taxpayers to file electronically and set up direct deposit to get their refunds back more quickly. With mail delays, it could take a while for the IRS to receive your return in the mail and even longer to issue a paper check.&nbsp;Filing your return online instead of through the mail is more important than ever this year to avoid refund delays, . Instead of a paper tax return, use so you don't have to wait to receive your money.In 2021, most Americans received a third stimulus check payment related to the . While that money is non-taxable, it needs to be reconciled on your tax return if you are claiming the recovery rebate credit.In recent , IRS Commissioner Charles P. Retting said that in 2020, the IRS "received far more than 10 million returns" where taxpayers failed to properly reconcile their stimulus payments with the amounts entered for their recovery rebate credits. Those returns require a manual review and create lengthy delays.If you plan to claim the recovery rebate credit on your tax return, learn how to avoid this error using or your .It sounds painful, but this form has nothing to do with physical injuries or disabilities.When a married couple filing jointly owes a federal debt, the IRS may seize their tax refund in order to offset the money that they owe. If only one half of the couple owes money, the other partner can be considered "injured" and request at least part of the expected tax refund. Enter IRS Form 8379.While not as common as some of the other causes, this tax-refund delay is significant. According to the , taxpayers filing the form should expect up to 14 weeks of processing time, or up to 11 weeks if filing electronically.If the IRS flags a tax return for having a possible chance of identity theft, the agency will hold your refund until your identity is verified. When that occurs, you'll likely receive a that provides instructions for proving your identity. If your tax return is legitimate, don't panic -- an IRS letter doesn't mean there is proof of identity theft, merely a suspicion.Taxpayers can , which currently requires , or by calling a dedicated phone number listed on the IRS letter. If those methods fail, you'll need to schedule an in-person appointment at a local IRS office.One method for avoiding identity-theft-related delays is to create an "Identity Protection PIN" or . This unique six-digit ID is known only to you and the IRS and prevents anyone else from filing a return in your name. The IP PIN will only last for one year -- you'll need to create a new one next tax season if you want the same level of identity protection. You'll need an ID.me account to create an IP PIN online, although it is possible to acquire an IP PIN using (PDF) and a telephone interview or in-person appointment.While this reason is rare, it can cause a lengthy delay in your tax refund. Non-resident foreigners in the US who earn taxable income may receive Form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding. This form often applies to non-Americans who receive scholarships while attending college in the US.To get the money withheld back in the form of a tax refund, foreigners who receive 1042-S forms will need to file a 1040-NR return. The that it needs more time to process these returns, up to six months after the return is filed or when the 1040-NR was due, whichever is later.It can happen to anyone -- you forgot a form or a major deduction or you accidentally picked the wrong filing status. If the change to your return is big enough, you'll want to file an amended return. The IRS allows anyone who files their tax return electronically to also e-file their amended return, but only for the current year.If you do file an amended return, you'll need to practice patience. The IRS warns that amended returns can take up to to be processed. Before filing an amended return, you may want to wait to receive the tax refund from your original return. The IRS can often correct small errors and adjust your tax refund accordingly. The agency provides an online tool for helping you .As mentioned above, if you see a message saying that your tax return needs further review by the IRS, you can expect your refund to arrive later than the average three weeks. For instance, if you receive a , it means the IRS has received your tax return and is holding your refund until it completes a more thorough review. You might get this notice if you're claiming treaty benefits or deductions on the (PDF) of your taxes.If the agency finds no issues, your refund could arrive within six to 12 weeks, assuming no taxes are owed. If the IRS does find issues with your return, it'll send you a notice with instructions on what to do within that same period. That means you'll get your refund months later than you anticipated.For more information, here are the for filing your taxes. Also, that could affect the size of your refund, and to boost your refund.Get the CNET How To newsletterReceive expert tips on using phones, computers, smart home gear and more. Delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays.

FollowIf it's been longer than three weeks, and you haven't received your tax refund, learn the most likely reasons.Katie TeagueWriterKatie is a writer covering all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social Security and notable events. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake.Peter ButlerHow To writer and editorPeter is a writer and editor for the CNET How-To team. He has been covering technology, software, finance, sports and video games since working for @Home Network and Excite in the 1990s. Peter managed reviews and...

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CNET, formerly Computer Network, is an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, podcasts, and videos on technology and consumer electronics globally. Founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition in 2008.

No Tax Refund Yet? Why Your IRS Money Might Be Late

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